It's all my car's fault!!!

I own a great little 2000 Toyota Corolla that currently has almost 200,000 miles on it! It is a manual, which I love, and it is completely, whole-heartedly responsible for my road rage!



I didn't discover this until my husband finally decided that since he drives more mileage than me, it would be more cost effective for him to take my car, which avgs 34+ mpg, while his big honkin' truck gets 19 mpg, if we're lucky. He didn't decide this until AFTER gas prices started to go down. But, it's progress.

He always commented that when I would drive his truck that his gas mileage would suck...and honestly, I would get worse mileage b/c I drove very impatiently (I'm trying not to say aggressively...let me live in my fantasy for a little longer, ok?) Well, it was proven a fact when he started getting better gas mileage in the car than I did. But it didn't really hit me why until this week.

I completely blame it on my car! Because it is a manual transmission, just the action of shifting makes me speed up & slow down faster...I don't have to wait for the engine to compensate on my driving style, so it made me drive faster. Also, this car is very small. So small that my poor Sexy Beast can barely fit in it, and forget about adults sitting in the back seat. Because of the size, I am forced to always be on edge for larger vehicles that will jump out of the bushes to squash, and possibly kill me. Who wouldn't be agitated?!?! Although, I've never been quite that agitated when driving my old bike b/c I felt more in control of the vehicle, and it was always a great adrenaline rush...being in complete control of that much power. I miss my Honda 954!

So, I noticed that since I have been driving the truck, I don't rush to get up to speed after stopping, and I drive very cautiously b/c I am scared of hurting someone with this beast! It also has a center console that is the perfect height for my elbow, thus lessening the strain on my bad right shoulder. Wouldn't you get agitated if you had to keep your right hand at 12 o'clock, with your shoulder muscles fully flexed for up to 45 minutes??

In conclusion, I should have been driving the newer, nicer...I mean safer vehicle ('06 Tacoma 4-door w/ extended bed, leather seats & DVD) from the very beginning. At least I am now doing my part to save the polar bears ;o)